Miss detector for internal-combustion engines



Dem-1s, 1923 y F. H. VALITON MISS DETECTOR FOR IN TERNAL COMBUS TION ENGINES Filed Nov. 22 192:2 2 sheets-sheet 1 A UUR/VF YS WITNESSES Dec. 18 1923. 1,477,732

F. H. vAu'roN MISS DETECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov. E32. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MQ/JMW@ MM2@ A TTURNEYS Patented Dee. 18, 1923.

STAT

earner FREDERICK H. VALITON, 0F DEER LODGE, MONTANA; ASSIGNOR- OF ONE-HALF TO PHILIP L. ONEILL, OF DEER LODGE, IIONTANA.

MISS DETECTOR FOR I1\TTEBNA LCOMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed November 22, 1922.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, FREDERICK H. VALL TON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Deer Lodge, in the county of Powell and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Miss Detectors for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to detectors especially adaptedfor use on internal combustion engines.V

Briefly stated an important object of this invention is to provide a detector for internal combustion engines having simple and reliable means whereby to electrically or mechanically indicate to the operator the particular cylinder of the engine which is misfiring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a detector of the character described which may be applied to an internal combustion engine of one or more cylinders without materially altering the construction of the engine and without impairing the operation of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a detector for internal combustion en! gines which is of highly simplilied construe tion, neat in appearance and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be a pparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved Idetector applied to an internal combustion engine7, the exhaust manifold of the engine being shown partly in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the detector applied.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a modiied form of invention, parts being shown in section and a wiring diagram being shown in conjunction with the detector.

Figure l is a side elevation of the form of invention illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a det-ail horizontal sectionalV view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective'illustrating the application of the electrical indicator and the switch therefor.

'j acent struck-out motor is accelerated.

Serial No. 602,546.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the electric indicator and the switch.

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram employed in connection with the invention.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention thenumeral 5 designates a'body formed from stamped metal or the like and being approximately in the form of a triangle. Figure l. illustrates that the lower portion of the body 5 is formed with a. plurality of disk-shaped extensions formed with openings surrounded by bosses 6. The bosses 6 are confined between the exhaust ports 8 and the exhaust manifold 9 so that suitable gaskets 7 may be employed to provide a gas tight connection between the parts. By reason of locating the said openings in alignment with the exhaust ports 8 and manifold 9 the burned and unburned fuel will pass through the openings and into the exhaust manifold.

In carrying out the invention as illustrated in Figures l and 2, a plurality of rods or shafts i0 are extended through the upper portions of the bosses and are extended into sockets in the lower portion of the bosses whereby the shafts are rotatably supported. It may be stated that the body 5 is provided adjacent its upper portion with a plurality of struck-out bearings 11 which rotatably receive the upper portions of the shafts 10.

rl`lierefore the upper portions of the shafts l0 are rotatably supported by the struckout portions l1 while the lower portions of the shafts are rotatably supported by the several bosses 6.

Figures l and 2 plainly illustrate that the lower portions of the shafts l0 are provided withsemi-circular exhaust contact wings la normally held at right angles to the path of travel of the products of combustion and the unburned fuel by means of coiled springs l5 anchored to the shafts l0 and to the adportions or bearing members l1.

, The tension of the springs l5 is sufficient to overcome the force of the unburned exhaust fuel if any and the contact wings are therefore turned only as the result of engagement with the burned fuel when the W hen the wings 14 are turned Va quarter l of a turn as a result of contact with the burned fuel of a high velocity the shafts 10 are also turned and an indicator head 16 carried by the upper portion of each shaft is turned within an opening 17 inthe upper portion ofthe'fbody 5. Figure 1 illustrates that each spring 15 normally holds lthe associated indicator head 1G in enga-gement with a stop lug 18 carried by Vone edge of the opening 17. By reason ofthis arrangement the turning of the rod 10 beyond a predetermined degreelistprevented. That is to say the lheads 16 which correspond inv number to the number of cylinders normally 'lay parallel to the body 5.

in the use of this form of the invention the several-bosses@ and-the. gaskets T are clamped between theexhaustports of the engine 'andthe exhaust manifold so .that the wings 141 will be arranged at right angles lto the path of travel of the exhaust. ShouldV any particular .spark` plug failtoiire at the proper time the compressed lfuel will not be ignited and will pass' out through the eX- haust port'5 when the-exhaust valve is open, leaving thei'wings lain their original posiltionsdue to thetension ofthe spring 15.

hen. it-is vdesired to malte a testa-the yengine is accelerated and the burned fuel or productsfofi combustion-in entering the `exhaust manifoldvwill strike the wings 14 and turn the saine aquaiter of a turn. This,

of icourse, turns the shafts 10 'and the heads 16 against thetension of 'the coil springs whereupon 1@the operator .by observing the heads 16 -will immediately know which `cylinders are firing and which are Y Anot. Those cylinders-whichfare not firing will exhaust auf unburned-fuel. the force of which willbe insufficient` to turn the vwings 14 which .they 'encounter. Therefore the yliexidsl whichare turned a quarter `of a.

turn willjiiidicate to the operator that the ycylinders which they represent are properly firing and iii-case any of the heads 16' re- Ymain in. their original position the operator will he advised that the cylinders which they represent are not firing properly.

1t is understood, of course, ithat the several cylinders lare numbered andA that 4numbers.corresponding to the number of cylinders maybe .placed on the sheet metal plate 5 so as to relievefthe opera-tor of the necessity of tracing the shaft l0 to the proper cylinder.

1n carryingl out the invention the several indicators. may be manufactured entirely independent of each other and installed separately for each cylinder. 1t will be observed thateach lwing 14 is .formed Vfrom a. rdisk- .shapedpiece of. metal .bent rupon itself inter- Lmediate its-ends to provide a lpair ofsernicircular portions .and an attaching member which receives the loweriportion ofthe stein. Suc-h fasteningdevices as .rivets maybe eni- .ployetlfforconnecting the semi-circular por- Ywing 33 is arranged in the opening defined by the boss and a spindleor shaft S is rigidly connected to the wing,the said spindle being rotatably'coniiected to opposite sides of the boss lvandhaving its upper portion formed witlia `target or vdish-shaped indicator head 35. cator head 35 visually indicates-to the operator when the wing 33 isturned as a result of contact with the unburned fuel,

1n this forni of the'invention a secondary -wing BSisprovided-and the -sarne is of arcf nate formation and is of such an area and so'- arranged that it is operated only by the heavy exhaust O'ases which result froin t-he 1tiring of the compressed fuel. That Vis to say the tension behind the secondary wingf t 38 prevents the wing from being operated as the result of contact with the ufnhurned fueh which as previously stated, is sucieiit to operate the wing 33. Then the engine is operated and one of the cylinders is iniproperly tiring, the unburned fuel will contact with the vwing 3B and turn the same and this unburnedfuel will not' turn the wing 38. Y .1; V Y Y However, assuming that the engine is the cylinders are firing,V the exhaust will turn both the wings 3B and 38 taneously and the tuhulai.' shaft 4) wl Y rigidly connected tothe secondary-wing 38 will also 'be turned. y

Figure 3 illustrates that 't-hetubularY shalt et() which receives the shaft is provided with a. target .42. The outer target d2 which Vis of annular formation carries la y t 4rally project-ing arm 4S having a contact Ll-'l Y i fr i is engaged by a spring contact c bythe indicator 1When 'the w and 38 are operated simultaneously sult of-the high Ispeed'o'f the engine the indicators 35 and 42 will be turned tegethei' and the members Ll-l and 45 will-be maintained in spaced relation.

,y However assuming that the Vcylinder is inisiring theV iiiibnrned 'fuel will contact with the wing'33and cause the wing'alone to turn. r1`he'velocity of the unbiirned fuel and the Ypressure of the saine will be insu?- 'ficient-,tooperate vthe arcuate exhaustcon- When this tactmeinber 38. occurs the con- The disk-shaped indi-A V operating at a considerable speed and all grounded tact spring 45 will engage the contact 44 and therefore close an electrical circuit for indicating` at a remote point that the engine is operating improperly.

` ln carrying out the invention the outer or secondary Contact member 3S is normally held .in a set position by means ot a coiled spring' 50 anchored to the tubular shat't 40 and having its upper portion anchored to the struck out portion or lip 53 YFormed on the upper portion ot the body 30.

The struck out lip not only torms an anchorinY means tor the lower spring' but also serves as a bearng tor 'the tubular shaft 40. Furthermore by Quitting;` out a portion ot the body to provide the struck out lip 53 an opening is provided to par-- tially receive the spring 50.2

The contact member 33 is normally held in an inoperative position solely by means ot coil spring 60 anchored at its lower end to an insulated terminal member 65. The other end of the coil spring 60 is anchored to the inner portion ot' the Contact leaf spring 45. However; the spring 60 is insulated from the head 35 and all other parts except the members 45 and 65.

Figure 2 illustrates that the contact 65 has electrical connection with one ot a plurality of bulbs 70 through the medium ot an electrical Wire 72 so that when one ot the contacts 44 and 45 are engaged with each other the current will pass through the bulb tor lighting` the same and thereby indicate to the operator that the cylinder is mistiring. A bracket S7 istormed integral with the body and engages the rear side oit theheads and 42 so as to limit the movement of the same under the influence ot the associated coiled springs, Y

The several electric bulbs .70 which cor- .respond in number to the number ot c',vlin ders are mounted in sockets '.79 carried by a cup-shaped support 167. rlhe cup-shaped support 167 is provided with a continuous j branch 168 Which may be secured to the rear ot the instrument board 169 by tasteninlo bolts i7() ot desired type. Suitable hoods or shades'i surround theseveral bulbs (0 so that the lig-ht from each 1oulb is discharged only through the associated opening; 176.' ln this manner the operator is accurately advised'as to which bulb is shining and which is not. n

it. switch i780 is carried by the instrument board and has connection with the Wires of" the circuit and one terminal ot' the switch connected to onepole ot' the ammeter lh the said ammeter having` connection with the battery 182 through the medium ot an elec-- tric wire 183. One pole ot the Vbattery is indicated at 184. As previously stated the contact spring is insulated from, but fastened to the head 35. The spring has its upper portion fastened to the contact spring 45 and its lower portion 'fastened to the insulator terminal 65. This leaves the spring` 60 and the contact 45 i1isulated troni all other parts. Therefore the spring` 60 is used as a means ot' conducting' the current to the contact spring' 45.

Should the cylinder that the detector represents niislire the Wing will be turned until the contact spring 45 comes into engagement with the contact 44 on the arm 4B. Current `Will then tloiv 'from the battery which tor automobile Work has one terminal grounded through the ammeter, through the switch, through the light designating` the misiiriug cylinderS through the insulator terminal 65, the insulated spring` 60`r through the spring' contact 457 the contact point 44, and the arm 43 Where it is grounded.

l'n operation should the speedot the engine he increased or the engine be subjected to an unusual load, the heavy exhaust gases Will not only turn the Wing but. Will turn the secondary exhaust contact Wing 38 and this Will maintain the contacts 44 and 45 in spaced relation. For this reason the circuit will not be completed and the lights Will not burn.

Ot course the electrical part ot the torni ot the invention illustrated in Figures 2 to 9,

may be dispensed with and the operator may by observing` the heads 35 and 42 ascertain Which cylinders are improperly nrino'. Furthermore the electrical indicator ma),v be employed in connection -with the form ot the invention illustrated in Figures l and 2.

The 'foregoingillustrates that the invention Vtori/ning the subject matter ot this application iscapable ot a wide variety ot mechanical expressions and it is therefore understood that the several terms ot the invention herewith shown and described arc to be taken as preferred examples ot the same and that, such minor changes in arrangement and construction ot' parts may be made as .vill remain Within the spirit ot the invention and the scope ot what is claimed,

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is z-f l. A. miss-detector tor internal combustion engines comprising a body having apertures adapted to be. arranged in registration With the exhaust ports ot au internal combustion engine, contact Wings having shafts rotatably connected to the body. spring mea-ns to normally hold the Wings at risl'itangles to the path ot travel ot the exhaust.` and indicators carried by said shaft.

2. :i miss-indicator :tor internal combustion engines comprising a. body hrwing` a boss and an opening Within the boss; a shatt' rotatably carried by said boss and having an indica-tor Wing arranged Within the opening and at right angles to the path of travel of the exhaust7 said body being provided with a lip having an opening rotatably receiving said shaft, a disk-shaped head connected to said shaft and constituting a visual indicator, and means limiting the turning of said wing in one direction.

3. A miss-indicator for internal combustion engines comprising a body having a boss and an opening Within the boss, a shaft rotatably carried by said boss and having an indicator wing arranged Within the opening, said body beingprovided with a lip having anopening rotatably receiving said shaft, a disk-shaped head connected to said shaft and constituting a visual indicator, and a spring anchored to the shaft and connected to said lip whereby to urge the Wing to its inoperative position.

4. A miss-detector for internal combustion engi-nes comprising a body, a shaft rotatably supported by said body and having an exhaust contact Wing arranged in the path of travel of the exhaust, an indicator head connected to said shaft, a second shaft of tubular formation receiving the first named shaft and having a second exhaust contact Wing, a second indicator head connected to said second named shaft, and cooperating means carried by said iirst and second named heads to indicate when the engine is n'iisfiring.

5. A miss-detector for internal combustion engines comprising a body, a shaft rotatably supported by said body and having an exhaust contact Wing arranged in the path of travel of the exhaust, an indicator head connected to said shaft, a second shaft of tubular formation receiving the first named shaft and having a second exhaust contact wing, a second indicator head connected to said second named shaft, cooperatn ing means carried by said lirst and second named heads to indicate when the engine is misfiring, :and a bracket limiting the rotation of said first and second-named heads.

6. A miss-detector for internal combustion engines comprising a body, a shaft rotatably supported by said body and having an exhaust contact wing arranged in the path of travel of the` exhaust, an indicator head connected to said shaft, a second shaft of tubular formation receiving the first named shaft and havinga second exhaust Contact Wing, a second indicator head coniected to said second named shaft, cooperating means carried by said first and second named -heads to indicate when the engine is inisfiriiig, and a pair of springs independently urging said wings to their inoperative positions.

7. A miss-indicator for internal combustion engines comprising a body, a shaft-rotatably supported by said body, a Wing Vcarried by said shaft, a second Wing of arcuate f formation :having a. tubular shaft` rotatangles to the heads being provided With members adapted for. engaging as the result of the turning of one exhaust contact Wing with relation to the other Wing, vand springs independently n urging said Wings to positions at right path of travel of the exhaust, said Wings being in .the path of travel of .the exhaust.

8. A miss-indicator for internal combustionengines comprising a body, a shaft rotatabiy supported by said "body, a Wing'carried by said shaft, a second Wing of arcuate formation arranged :adjacent said first named shaft a-ndv having'a tubular shaft rotatably receivingr said first named shaft an indicator head connected toV said Vfirst named shaft, a second head connected to saidsecond named shaft, said rst and second named heads being provided with laterally projecting members adapted for engaging'as .the result of the turning of one exhaust contact Wing Withrelation to the other Wing, springs independently urging said Wings to positions at right anglesto the path of travel of. the`exhaust,'and a bracket limiting the -rotation of the Wings, said Wings being in the path of travel of the exhaust.y

9. A miss-indicator comprising a body having a plurality of openings adapted for the passage of the exhaustvfrom Vthe -cylinders of an internal combustion engine, pairs of wings arranged inf said openings, and indicatorheads having'connection with said Wings, 'one indicator of eachpair :being-movable With relationfto'the-other indicator of that pair.

10. A miss-indicator comprising a body having a plurality of openingsadaptedvfor the passage of the exhaust from the cylinders of an internalI combustion engine, Wings arranged in said openings, indicator heads having connection with said wings, andV spring means for positioning the'vvings at right angles tothe pathl of travel of the exhaust. Y

11. `A miss detector for 'engines comprising a body, a pair of wings arranged' in the path 'of travel of the exhaust from a particular cylinder and being separately operated, shaftsoperated by said Wings'and having indicators, `and cooperating means Voperated by the movement of one of said in dicatorS-Withrelation to the other indicator to indicate when Va vparticular cylinder is misfiring.

12. Ai miss Vdetector.for internal 'combustion yengines comprising a'pair of Wings arrangedin'the path-.of travel of lthe exhaust from an internal'combustionengine, shafts supporting i the -Wings fandzhavging separate indicators, and separate springs associated with said shafts andurging the Wings sep-V arately to positions at right angles to the path of travel of the exhaust, one of said indicators being adapted to move with relation to the other indicator to indicate the misring of the engine. Y

13. A miss detector for internal combustion engines comprising a pair of Wings arranged in the path ofrtravel of the exhaust from an internal combustion engine, shafts supporting the Wings and having separate indicators, separate springs associated With said shafts and urging the Wings separately to positions at right angles to the path of travel of the exhaust, said shafts being interiitting, the movement of one indicator With relation to the other indicator constituting a means to indicate when a cylinder is niisiiring.

14. A miss detector comprising an exhaust operated Wing having an indicator, spring means urging the Wing to a position approximately at right angles to the path of travel of the exhaust, and a body supporting the Wing and having a stop limiting the turning` of said Wing.

FREDERICK H. VALITON. 

